Poetry and Landscape

Synopsis

Looks at 18th-century landscape paintings and at poetry which describes landscapes, in the context of their social and political background. He argues that landscape was seen as providing a metaphor for society, providing either a justification for, or a critique of, the established order. In four parts: 1) the organisation of 18th-century landscape painting to look like theatre sets, and a comparison with equivalent techniques in poetry; 2) the political significance of such a procedure, related to the different layers of society; 3) the contrast in paintings between formalised landscape gardens and ‘natural’ landscape, and its significance as a metaphor for degrees of freedom; 4) the layering of society represented in rural poetry and in visual representations of rural life.

Series

Enlightenment, The: Course A206

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 24 min.

Year of production

1993

Availability

Off-air recording licence
Sale; 1998 sale: £145.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Subjects

Art; English language and literature; History

Keywords

Enlightenment; history of the 18th century; paintings; paintings - landscape paintings; poetry

Credits

Producer

Robert Philip

Cast

John Barrell

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk